Monument record 177/1/1 - Roman cremation urn and quernstone finds in 1982, St Anne's Lane

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 10, p.69, Williams S R, 1985 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Whilst digging a foundation trench at Davelyn House, St Anne's Lane, a pottery urn, rim uppermost, was found; it contained ash and cremated bone fragments. Excavation showed it to be 50cms below modern ground level in a grey sandy subsoil. Some Nene Valley pottery sherds and other coarseware were present, also some black burnished ware was found in the trench circa 3.5m to the west.

<2> 1991, Roman Remains from St Anne's Lane, Nantwich (Finds report) (Unpublished Report). SCH7363.

Discussion of Roman finds/deposits made at St Anne's Lane including the cremation burial and a large, Roman quernstone (in two pieces), made of local Mow Cop type sandstone also found in 1982 during the same construction work as the cremation. Other finds discussed include a 2nd century AD timber plank-lined pit along with Roman pottery (recorded separately CHER 177/1/2), also separate finds of Roman pottery and a silver denarius coin (CHER 177/1/3).

The cremation was contained in a Severn Valley ware jar, complete, similar to Webster 5 but with 3 double grooves on the shoulder. Analysis of the cremation (by Stanley Rubin) concludes that the bone was fired at circa 800 degs celcius when the bones were 'green', ie: still covered with flesh. The cremated bones include fragments of cranial vault, long bones, orbit of the eye, also piece of maxilla and mandible containing sockets and small fragments of teeth. It appears to be the remains of a teenager/adolescent, or more likely a young mature female.

Most of the finds are residual apart from the cremations and plank-lined pit; it is unlikely that St. Anne's Lane was an area of Roman settlement which probably lay on the opposite side of the river. The presence of cremations, burnt bone and charcoal suggests an extra-mural Roman cemetery, whilst the presence of briquetage in the pottery, the timber-lined tank and the proximity of the site to salt pans suggest it was an area of salt works.